The papers document the literary career and the personal and professional life of twentieth-century American novelist and
writer Waldo David Frank. Comprising correspondence, writings, publicity, writings by others, memorabilia, photographs, scrapbooks,
and clippings spanning from 1879 to 1977, the collection contains 132 boxes and 3565 folders. The correspondence documents
Frank's personal and professional relationships with writers, editors, artists, friends, and family. Letters from friendships
with other writers and artists such as Jean Toomer, Sherwood Anderson, Alfred Stieglitz, Lewis Mumford, Van Wyck Brooks, and
Hart Crane document congenial collaborations, sharing of ideas, and disagreements. The writings contain his notebooks, major
works, articles, essays, and early writings tracing Frank's works and ideas of society and culture with psychological and
social themes of man and his environment. Frank's passion for the culture and study of Spain, Latin America, and Mexico is
apparent in correspondence and his research, preserved through notes and photographs of South America and Mexico. Letters
and photographs display Frank's relationships with family members, his wives (Margaret Naumburg, Alma Magoon Frank, and Jean
Klempner Frank) and his children. The materials in this collection divulge not only the writings of Waldo Frank, but the struggles
of the writer and his encounters with himself and society as he seeks his vision of truth in the world. He was courageous
in the face of his critics and his political enemies even when experiencing both written and physical attacks. Even though
Frank claimed he was an outsider he was embraced by the people and cultures he championed and studied. Although largely forgotten
by the end of his lifetime, his correspondence, writings, and ideas remain, providing insight into literary circles, political
ideas, and historical events in the United States and Latin America during the early- to mid-twentieth century.

title

Waldo Frank papers

creator

Frank, Waldo David, 1889-1967

id

PUSp.Ms. Coll. 823

repository

University of Pennsylvania Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

extent

63 linear feet (132 boxes, 1 oversized folder)

inclusive date

1879-1977

bulk date

abstract/scope/contents

The papers document the literary career and the personal and professional life of twentieth-century American novelist and
writer Waldo David Frank. Comprising correspondence, writings, publicity, writings by others, memorabilia, photographs, scrapbooks,
and clippings spanning from 1879 to 1977, the collection contains 132 boxes and 3565 folders. The correspondence documents
Frank's personal and professional relationships with writers, editors, artists, friends, and family. Letters from friendships
with other writers and artists such as Jean Toomer, Sherwood Anderson, Alfred Stieglitz, Lewis Mumford, Van Wyck Brooks, and
Hart Crane document congenial collaborations, sharing of ideas, and disagreements. The writings contain his notebooks, major
works, articles, essays, and early writings tracing Frank's works and ideas of society and culture with psychological and
social themes of man and his environment. Frank's passion for the culture and study of Spain, Latin America, and Mexico is
apparent in correspondence and his research, preserved through notes and photographs of South America and Mexico. Letters
and photographs display Frank's relationships with family members, his wives (Margaret Naumburg, Alma Magoon Frank, and Jean
Klempner Frank) and his children. The materials in this collection divulge not only the writings of Waldo Frank, but the struggles
of the writer and his encounters with himself and society as he seeks his vision of truth in the world. He was courageous
in the face of his critics and his political enemies even when experiencing both written and physical attacks. Even though
Frank claimed he was an outsider he was embraced by the people and cultures he championed and studied. Although largely forgotten
by the end of his lifetime, his correspondence, writings, and ideas remain, providing insight into literary circles, political
ideas, and historical events in the United States and Latin America during the early- to mid-twentieth century.